Apparatus for sterilizing food products



Oct. 27, 1936.` O W. w. REECE 2,058,826

` APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING FOOD PRODUCTS Filed AprilI 27, 1933 Sheets-Sheet 1 J i x i (,347

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' Wade f/e e/@Q Oct. 27, 1936. yv W, REECE 2,9589826 APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING FOOD PRODUCTS l Filed April 27 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1936. w. w. REECE APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING FOOD PRODUCTS Filed April 27, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 xgmlllnmm W Oct. 27, 1936. O W VV REECE 058,826

PARATUS FOR STERILIZING FOOD PRODUCTS Filed April 2'?, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 27, 1936 PATENT oFETcE APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING FOOD PRODUCTS Wade W. Reece, Chicago, lll., assignorto The.

W. E. Long Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 27, 1933, Serial No. 668,165

2 Claims.

This invention relates to sterilizing food and other products, and, more particularly, to the sterilization of bread and other bakery products. The principal object of the invention is the 5 provision of a newv and improved process for sterilizing bakery and other products and for maintaining the same in sterilized condition until ready for use. y

A further object of the invention is the provision vof new and improved means for sterilizing food and other products after the lsame has been enclosed in a suitable wrapper.

A further object of the invention is the pro-l vision of a new and improved apparatus for sterilizing food products at a minimum of labor and expense.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for simultaneously sterilizing a plurality of packages of food products.v

Other and yfurther objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 -i'sa vertical section of the device;

' Fig. 2 is .a horizontal section of the device on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the holders;

* Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modiiiedform of apparatus with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a similar view, but on an enlarged scale, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a section on thebroken line 6--6 of Fig. 7 is a section on the line 'l-1 f Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale.

It is common practice in the treatment of food products for the general trade to iirst sterilize the product and then wrap the same in a sealed wrapper. Unless the Wrapper is sterilized and the products wrapped in sterilized air, there will be more or less mold spores enclosed with the food. It has been found by experiment that food products may be enclosed in -transparent wrappers, or wrappers pervious to ultra-violet rays,

such as cellulose acetate, or the like, and the same sterilized by subjecting the package to the action of ultra-violet rays.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and `improved apparatus4 .for sterilizing bakery and other products after the same have been enclosed in wrappers whereby contamination of the product after it is sterilized is avoided, and the product is kept in a fresh condition for long periods of time.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character IIIv represents generally a device for .sterilizing packaged food and other products, 5

such as bakery and dairy products, meats andV other packaged edibles that are subject to contamination by molding, by the application of ultra-violet rays thereto. For the purpose of disclosing the invention, vthe devices illustrated 10 will be described as apparatuses for sterilizing packaged bakery products, such as loaves of bread, but it is understood that this is by way of example only..

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings l5 in which is illustrated, more or less diagrammatically, one embodiment of the invention, the reference character I I designates the base of the machine within which may be mounted the motor I2 for operating the same. The base is provided 20 with ring gear I3 which is rigidly attached to the cylindrical support I4 attached to and extending above the base II. J ournalled axially within the base is a shaft I5 having a spur gear I6 on its lower end. 25 R'igidly attached to the upper end of the shaft l5 is a frame I1 which has an upstanding portion I8 provided with laterally extending anges I9 and 2|. The flanges I9 and 2| are provided with aplurallty of aligned openings 22 and 23 through 30 which extend the shafts 24 of the supports 25.

vKeyed to the lower end of each of the shafts 24 is a pinion 26 which meshes with the ring gear I3. 'I'he frame I1 is rotated by any suitable means, such as the motor I2 operating through 35 the gear box 21 and pinion 28 which meshes with the gear I6. Collars 29 on the shafts 24 secured by means of the set screws 3l limit downward movement of the shafts 24.

The upper ends of the shaft 24 are each pro- 40 vided with suitable means, as the frame or holder 25, for supporting the products that are to be sterilized. In order that the holder shall offer theminimum amount of obstruction to the ultraviolet .rays employed for sterilizingthe product, 45

' the holder is provided with lingers of a minimum area in cross section. As shown, the frames comiprise a base portion 32 rigidly secured-to the upper end of the shaft 24 and having ngers 33 offset upwardly from the base for receiving the package, such as a loaf of bread 34, or other article of food, and for supporting the same above the base whereby the sterilizing rays will have access to thelower end of the product.

A suitable source of ultra-violet rays isl provided for treating the products. Any suitable A conventional carbon lamp, or lamps, suitn able for this purpose are shown at 35 in which the carbons are shown at 20 and 30. Since the details of these lampsconstitute no part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe the same. The entire device may be, and preferably is, enclosed in a casing 36. This casing is provided with an opening 40 in one side through which the products are supplied to the supports 25 and removed therefrom. Preferably-though not necessarilyreflectors are provided for reflecting the rays from the lamp on to the packages 34. TheseV reflecting surfaces may be arranged on the sides, as at 31, above, as at 38 and 39, and below the packages, as at 4|. By means of this arrangement, the packages are not only subjected to the direct rays from the lamp, but are also subjected to the reflected rays.

The parts are so constructed that when in operation, the frame will revolve about the lamp 35 which remains stationary and the revolution of the frame around the lamp will cause the rotation of the shafts 24 through the cooperation of the pinions |6 and ring' gear I3. In this way, all parts of the package will be subjected to the rays from the lamp. The package moves slowly in its revolution aboutthe lamp and also rotates somewhat slowly on its axis, thus giving the operator ample time to replace a treated package with an .untreated one, as the support passes the loading station at the opening 40. ',Ihe operation is continuous and the movements may be speeded up, if desired, to the point when a plurality of operations are required. The device may, if desired, be. made of larger capacity and be provided with a plurality of loading and unloading stations, thus speeding upvthe output.

It has been found by experiment that the rays are most effective if they strike the package normal to the surface of the wrapping material. This is especially true when the package material cellulose acetate, known to the trade as cellophane, is employed for containing the package. The lamp is preferably so adjusted that rays therefrom will fall on the sides of the package normal thereto. The frame may be of any suitable size, depending on the desired capacity of the plant within which the same is used.

In the operation of the device, the frame I1 is rotated and its rotation will cause the frames 25 containing the articles to be sterilized tovrevolve and at the same time rotate'- on their axes. As the packages pass the doorway or opening 40, the sterilized I packages are removed from the frames 25 and other packages are placed in position on said frames. The parts are preferably so constructed and operated that the articles are sufllciently sterilized during one complete revolution.

While ln the apparatus employed a single lamp assembly is used and the bakery products are :moved about the lamp for subjecting said products to the ultra-violet rays of said lamp, it is understood that it is immaterial whether the product or the lamp is movable, it being essential only that all parts of the wrapped product be lproperly subjected to the action f the ultraviolet rays.

In Figs. 4 to 'l is shown a modified form of conjstructiorilin which the loading and Vunloading of the packagd'product is accomplished automati- 'lcally. On the drawings, the apparatus is shown more or less diagrammatically and comprises the sterilizing apparatus, designated generally by the reference character 42, which is adapted to be supplied with products by the conveyor 43 from the Wrapping machine 44. The wrapping machine may be of the usual. or any well-known construction. If desired, the product, as, for instance, bread, may be conducted from the cooling tunnel 45 through the slicing machine 46 and from the slicing machine the sliced loaves may be conducted automatically by the conveyor 4l to the wrapping machine 44. Where a slicing machine is not employed, the bakery products may be conveyed directly from the cooling chamber 45 to the Wrapping machine 44 in any suitable manner. Since the-details of the cooling chamber 45, the slicing machine 46, the wrapping machine '44 and the associated conveyors constitute no part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe thelsame.v Any of the commercial types of these devices may be employed.

Suitable means are provided for automatically turning the loaves 34 to upright position after they have passed through the wrapping machine 44. The wrapped loaves are conducted to the forward end of the conveyor 43 where they are deposited on a chute 48. This chute is inclined downwardly and is constructed in such a manner as to cause the packaged product in its lmovement along the chute to be turned` to upright position by the time it reaches the rleceptacle 5| at the end of the chute. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for accomplishing this function. As shown, one side wall 49 of that portion of the chute leading downwardly toward the receptacle 5| is inclined toward the other side wall so'one end of the loaves 34 will contact the wall 49 as the loaves slide down this chute with the result that the opposite end of the loaf will travel ahead, thereby turning the loaf through an angle of as indicated in lfull lines on Fig. 4 of the drawings. The loaf sliding down the remainder of the chute endwise will be deposited in a vertical position in the receptacle 5|. The receptacle 5| is positioned vertically above the endless carrier for depositing the products in the package supports 52, as will presently appear.

A plurality of package holders or supports are provided as in the construction described above, but the mechanism for rotating these holders and for causing the same to revolve about the ultraviolet ray lamp is different. In this form of construction, the package holders, or supports, 52 are supported by the rods 53, which in turn are rotatablyI mounted in sleeves or bearings 54.

The bearings 54 are attached at their upper the lamps 51.. The chains are operated by a pair of sprockets 58 at one end of the gear and are trained about a pair of sprockets 59 at the other end of the gear (see Fig. 4 ofthe drawings).I The sprockets 58 are fast' on the shaft 'I0 which is rotated by the -gear 5| and pinion $2 froml a suitable motor 63 through the gear box 64. The endless carrier conducts the holders 52 and with them the products to be sterilized around lamps 51 that emit ultra-violet rays. In order to expose the entire surface of the product to the ultraviolet rays, means are provided for rotating the holders 52 as the same revolve about the lamps.

The holders I2 are caused to rotate by the en- 75 tached to the lower end of the shaft 53 and engaging a fixed gear rack 66 (see Fig. '7).

It is desirable that the packaged articles be automatically deposited in the supports or holders 52. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for performing this function. In the form of construction selected to illustrate oneA embodiment of this feature of the invention, the inner end of the chute 48 is-closed, as by means of the angular walls 61 (Fig. 5) which form the receptacle 5| for receiving the packaged article, such -as a-loaf of bread-34. The bottom wall, or floor,

68 of the receptacle 5| is movable and means are provided for removing this floor4 from beneath the article in timed relation to the movement of the endless carrier, as will presently appear. Any suitable means may be employed for operating this floor.

In the form of construction shown, the floor 68 (see Fig. 5) is slidably mounted in guides 69 and 1 I. The bottom wall, or floor, 68 on its lower side is provided 4with a rack 12 which is engaged by a corresponding pinion 13, which in turn is operated by a quadrant 18. The quadrant 19 is provided with an arm 15 that is pivoted as at 16 and its free end is adapted to be engaged successively by the shafts 53 during the operation of the device. The arm 15 may be provided with an anti-friction roller 11, `as. clearly shown in Fig. `5 of the drawings. The parts are so constructed and proportioned that the floor 68 will be removed-from beneath the packaged article.

34 when one of the holders 52 is directly beneath the package. Av suitablev spring l288 and st opv 238 `will position the free end of the arm .16 in the path of the shafts 53 when the same is released.

Suitable means are provided for removing the package from the endless carrier after the same has been treated. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose. In the form of -construction shown, mechanism is provided for elevating the loaf from the holder and other means are provided for causing 'the loaf to be deposited inA a gravity chute. In the form of construction selected to illustrate one embodiment of this feature, a vertical shaft 18 (see Fig. 5) is mounted in suitable bearings at what might be termed the .discharge station. This shaft has mounted thereon a trip arm 19 which is adapted to be engaged by the holder shafts 53 for operating the discharge'mechanism. The shaft .18 is provided with a bevelled gear 8| for operating a stubshaft 82 through a suitable pinion 83 on one end of said'shaft.' The opposite end of the stub shaft 82 is provided with a sleeve 84 to which is connected the elevator'arm 85. The outer end of the arm 85 is provided with a pairof fingers 98 which are adapted to engage beneath the bakery product carried by the holder 52 for elevating the same. In order that the arm 85 may move with theshaft 53 of the holders while it is elevating the package, the same is pivoted at 88 to said sleeve. A stop 81 limits the return movement ofthe arm 85 and a spring 88 is adapted to return-the sameto its inoperative posicession as theyrevolve about the source of ultraviolet r'ays. 'a

In the operation of the discharge mechanism, the shaft 53 of each holder as it comes around will Contact the outer end of the arm 19 which may be provided with ananti-frictlcn roller 96. As the endless carrier with the shaft 53 advances, it will rotate the'arm 19 counter clockwise and through the movement of the gears 8| and 83 will cause the outer end of the arm 85 to be elevated whereby the fingers 984 will engage beneath the loaf and elevate the same from the holders 52, and at the instant the product is nearing the limit of its movement, the blade 89 is caused to strike the product and discharge or project the same into the inclined chute 91.

The sterilizing mechanism is preferably housed within a suitable casing 98 and in order to increase the 'eciency of the lamps, the inner surfaces of the casing 98 may be provided with mirrors or mirror surfaces, as at 99, |88, I8|, |88, |83 and |84 forA reecting the rays onto the product from above, below and from the sides, as indicated in Fig. '7 of' the drawings.

In the operation of the entire device, the food product is wrapped in a wrapper pervious to germicidal rays. through the cooling tunnel, the slicing ma- After the productpasses chineif the product is sliced-and the wrapping arm' 19 operates the mechanism in timed relation to the'movement of the endless carrier so that the fingers 98 will pass upwardlybetween the retaining fingers of the holder and the blade 89 will discharge the product into the chute 91.

While a carbon lamp is employed as a source of ultra-violet rays for steriliz'ing products Wrapped in transparent wrappers, it is understood that any suitable means may be' employed that will emit germicidal rays which will sterilize the product through the package material whetherthe material is transparent or not, it being only necessary that the rays penetrate the wrapper or packagematerial and'sterilize the product enclosed therein.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that changes in size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for sterilizing bakery products wrapped in transparent material, an ultraviolet ray lamp, means including wire lingers hav-` ing outward offsets between their ends for supporting thereon bakery products wrapped in a wrapper of transparent material within the direct path of said rays, means for changing the relative position of said lamp and product whereby all sides except the top and bottom of said product will be subjected to s aid direct rays, means for continuously revolving said products about said lamp and for rotating the same about vertical axes, means for enclosing said lamp and product, and reilecting surfaces within the enclosure and spaced from the supporting means for reecting said rays onto the upper and lower surfaces of said product whereby substantially the entire surface of said product will be subjected to ultra-violet rays.

2. In an apparatus for sterilizing bakery products wrapped in transparent material, an ultra violet ray lamp, means for supporting bakery products wrapped in a wrapper of transparent material within the-direct path of said rays, said means being of such construction and supporting said products in such manner that reflected rays from said lamp will impinge on substantially the entirel top and bottom surfaces of said products, means for changing the relative position of said lamp and product-whereby all sides except the top and'bottom of said product will be subjected to said direct rays, means for continuously revolving said products about said lamp and for rotating the same about vertical axes, means for enclosing said lamp and product, and reflecting surfaces within the enclosure and spaced from the supporting means for reflecting said rays onto the upper and lower surfaces of said product whereby substantially the entire surface of said product will be subjected to ultra violet rays.

WADE W. REECE. 

